After this winter's snow situation has caused World Cup hosts like Montafon and Squaw Valley to cancel their snowboard cross races, Veysonnaz has stepped in to secure the minimum of three events which are mandatory to have a World Cup title winner.

While the alpine snowboarders are currently going big in Japan with two races this weekend, the circuit will miss one rider who won the last pgs staged in the land of the rising sun: Nicolien Sauerbreij (NED). The 2010 Olympic champion recently retired - reason enough for us to talk to her.